By Rauf Oyewole
A non-governmental organisation, Evidence Initiative for Improved Livelihood (EIFIL) has said that creation of sanitary pad banks in Bauchi State primary health care facilities and schools would reduce the rate of out-of-school girls and boost learning outcomes.
EIFIL said that lack of sanitary pads within the reach of adolescent girls in school, coupled with the tough economic situation and girls unfriendly environment to menstrual issues are keeping girls out of school.
The group, during an advocacy programme for the ministries of education, health, budget and economic planning, women affairs and the state house of assembly, called for establishment of pad incubation centres to allow female students to concentrate in their studies.
The Programme Manager of EIFIL, Mark Adejo, anchoring the Plan International’s Aspire Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, said that the organisation in its implementing local government areas of Bauchi, Dass and Ningi observed that lack of disposable sanitary pads had contributed to disruption learning among girls.
Adejo, who commended the state government for its commitment to develop the health sector, called for more investments in primary health care centres in various communities in Dass, Bauchi and Ningi to provide more access.
He said that the more close the PHCs are to the people, the more the nation achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and reduce mortality rate.
Also, Rifkatu Ibrahim Dauda, Midwife and Social Health Worker, who was a facilitator explained that, several adolescent girls have dropped out of school due to embarrassment and ridicules from their male counterparts during menstrual period.
“Some of them have had reasons not to go to school. A good number of them cannot afford to buy pads due to financial constraints. If we have these pad incubation centres in our schools, philanthropists could donate there and the students will access to it while in school.”
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